With the amalgamation of three unions to create Fórsa came an opportunity to enhance membership benefits. There are a broad spectrum of benefits available to members, varying in nature. Some are financial, others by means of support. With some schemes members are automatically enrolled when they join the union, and there are others that operate on an “opt in” basis. It is important to note however, that members can make considerable savings through these benefits.

So what exactly does your membership subscription get you?

Financial benefits

After 6 months in membership all members are entitled to the following:

• €5,000 in personal accident cover
• €5,000 critical illness cover or death benefit. Spouses are also covered under this scheme
• From 2 January 2019 a €5,000 illness benefit will be available to members if you are out of work for more than 12 months
• For members who are seriously ill, injured, or pass away while abroad, Fórsa will cover evacuation or repatriation expenses up to the value of €250,000

Fórsa has also negotiated a number of group schemes for its members through various providers including Cornmarket, Glennons Insurance, JLT, KennCo and Lyons Financial Services, details of which we'll be including in the next news bulletin. These providers will give members advice on various financial products such as car and home insurance, pension benefits, salary protection and life cover.

Support services

Fórsa members can also avail of free counseling, legal advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, through the following helplines:

• Free legal help in bodily injury cases 1850-77-66-44
• Free 24/7 legal advice helpline 1850-77-66-44
• Free 24/7 confidential counselling helpline 1850-77-66-55
• Free 24/7 domestic assistance helpline 1850-77-66-44

In addition, provisions have been made for a benevolent grant for members who are in financial distress. Gaeltacht scholarships are available for members who have school age children. Members can also avail of industrial relations scholarships.

Group Scheme

Another hidden gem is the group scheme. This operates on an “opt in” basis and there are huge savings to be made on everyday items. Members can access discounts from small businesses located near their place of work including restaurants, retailers, hairdressers and coffee shops.

The group scheme also operates a cashback system. The concept is simple; every time you shop online with one of the cashback partners they will reimburse a portion of what you spend. The money accumulates in your group scheme cashback account, which you can transfer to your bank account at any time.

Fórsa organiser Bernie Aston explains just how important these schemes are for members. “All of the membership schemes are hugely beneficial. Fórsa has negotiated with a number of financial providers to give members the best options available. Generally, with the likes of the financial products, members will see discounts on what they are currently paying.”

Bernie also highlighted the benefits of the group scheme. “This is a real money saver” said Bernie. “Members can more than negate the cost of their union subscriptions through the savings and offers available.”

For more information on the full range of benefits visit the Fórsa website.

Aer Lingus management has agreed to re-establish the airline’s Internal Disputes Resolution Board (IDRB).

The ICTU group of unions met airline management in early October, and expressed strong objection to the company’s unilateral decision earlier this year to abolish the IDRB.

Fórsa head of division Angela Kirk said: “The group of unions informed the company that it would continue to refer cases to the IDRB and expected them to be dealt with under the existing agreed IDRB procedures.” Angela said the airline’s chief operations officer accepted the union position.

Profit share discussions break down

Discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on a profit-sharing scheme at Aer Lingus broke down in mid-October.

The talks followed last year’s Labour Court recommendation that unions and management should engage in ‘without prejudice’ discussions on the potential for introducing profit-sharing arrangements. While discussions during the summer ended without agreement, talks had continued and the parties returned to the WRC.

Angela said the individual unions involved in the discussions are now considering their positions on the matter.

The first engagement since the establishment of the recognition agreement in August, took place in mid-October between Fórsa Ryanair cabin crew representatives and the airline.

Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said the union tabled an agenda of items drawn up in consultation with cabin crew members. These are to be developed into detailed proposals.

Ashley said, “We put forward a menu of items, some of which are completely cost neutral and others that will have minimal costs involved.”

The items tabled by the union included base transfer and seniority, review of policies (including sick leave and disciplinary), shift pattern bidding and shift exchanges.

Ashley confirmed the next meeting with management is to take place on Monday 26th November.

The launch of the Fórsa Women’s Activist Network will take place on Saturday 3rd November at 11am at Fórsa's Nerney's Court Office.
 
This new Equality Network will provide a forum for members across the union to meet and discuss issues relevant to women in the workplace. This national meeting is the first of a series of new Equality Networks to be established by the Equality Committee over the coming months.

The meeting will be opened by ICTU General Secretary Patricia King and will feature speakers on the gender pay gap, access to flexible working schemes, the role of women within Fórsa and other topics of interest to activists across the union.
 
The event, which will run from 11am to 3pm, will include speakers on the following topics:

• Patricia King, General Secretary Irish Congress of Trade Unions – Opening remarks
• Ann McGee, Fórsa President - Building the Women’s Activist Network
• Orla O’Connor, Director National Women’s Council of Ireland – The Gender Pay Gap and mandatory Reporting
• Laura Bambrick, Social Policy & Legislative Officer Irish Congress of Trade Unions - Wives, Mothers, Workers: A brief history of the treatment of women in tax and welfare policies
• Angela Kirk, Fórsa National Secretary – Women working in Aviation – experiences, barriers & opportunities
• Lisa Wilson, Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute – The importance of flexible working for women in the workplace
• Margaret Coughlan, Chair ICTU Women’s Committee – Our Fórsa Inspire Training and how we can develop the role of Women within Fórsa

The full programme is available to view here. This is the first of a number of new Equality Networks which will be established over the coming months aimed at improving equality in the workplace for Fórsa members.

 
Places are available to members on a first come first served basis, lunch will be provided. To book a place please send an email to this address with 'Fórsa Women’s Activist Network' in the subject heading.

Fórsa has signed a recognition agreement with two cabin crew agencies which provide cabin crew to Ryanair.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday (31st October) with the Crewlink and Workforce agencies, means the union is the sole negotiating union for Irish based Ryanair cabin crew. The union had previously signed an agreement with the airline in August for directly employed cabin crew.

Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said the agreement marked a completion of the first step toward collective bargaining for Irish based crew working at the airline: “The agreement signed with Crewlink and Workforce is another very positive development for Ryanair cabin crew.

“We’ve already commenced discussions with Ryanair on an agenda of items drawn up in consultation with cabin crew members. As these items are developed into more detailed proposals, we’ll bring the same agenda to our discussions in the two agencies,” she said.

The agenda items tabled by the union included base transfer and seniority, review of policies (including sick leave and disciplinary), shift pattern bidding and shift exchanges.

Ashley said the union will focus now on agreeing improvements to cabin crew terms and conditions in its negotiations with Ryanair and the two cabin crew agencies.

Fórsa welcomed David Keegan and Edel Doran (pictured left, below) from First Fortnight to learn about their excellent work.

The Dublin-based charity aims to challenge mental health prejudice and stigma through arts and culture. It began as a volunteer-led initiative in 2010, establishing the first mental health arts and culture festival in 2012.

The charity also provides creative therapies to marginalised communities affected by mental ill-health.

Pictured are Fórsa's Eamonn Donnelly (right) and Dessie Robinson presenting a donation from our conference charity cycle event in May.

Find out more about their work at firstfortnight.ie.

Mental health support

First Fortnight are one of four mental health charities that received funds from the union’s charity cycling event, the sixth event of its kind. This year, the union focused on groups providing mental health supports and suicide awareness and prevention services.

Eamonn and Dessie established the event in 2008, cycling from Dublin to Kilkenny.

Since then the event has grown, attracting donations from every branch of the union, and each event features a growing number of participating union members.

To learn more about this year’s charities, check out the latest edition of Fórsa magazine, available in your workplace, or download a PDF version here.

Trade unions must match the digital experience provided by other organisations to build towards the future according to the Trade Union Congress (TUC’s) Antonia Bance.

Ms Bance, the TUC’s head of campaigns, communications and digital, was speaking about the importance of unions adopting a digitally orientated approach at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Friday Briefing event in mid-October.

She said an effective digital approach was crucial to reaching younger workers and encouraging greater engagement with unions. “Digital is as much about culture, practices and processes as technology, enhanced communications and research capabilities can be used to tailor campaigns,” she said.

Ms Bance also said practical changes to methods of recruiting members could make the everyday work of unions more efficient and provide a simpler and more enjoyable experience for members.

Speaking after the event, Fórsa's communications officer Niall Shanahan said “Antonia presented us with a formidable challenge, one that unions need to face realistically. Union members need to be able to have a digital relationship with their union on a par with their relationship with their bank or favourite online bookstore.

“The event provided useful and interesting insights into how to reach members on different platforms, and how to tailor both communications and general operations. 

“While every member values the direct contact they have with a union official, that relationship must be complemented by a responsive digital experience. The future is already here, unions need to own the digital space. We're not there yet,” he said.